YANKEES NOTES

And Starlin Castro (hamstring) shouldn’t be far behind, meaning that Ronald Torreyes likely will return to a utility role — even after a four-hit performance in Wednesday’s 10-2 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. Castro, with SWB, finished a suspended game on Wednesday 2-for-5.

Torreyes has helped the Yankees survive Castro’s absence, just as he did earlier in the season, when he filled in for the injured Didi Gregorius.

“He’s had I think eight hits in two days and saw five pitches, maybe,” Gregorius said with a laugh. “He’s attacking. That’s all he does.”

As for Bird, the Yankees will welcome his left-handed power bat — so it’s not a surprise they are ready for his return.

Jaime Garcia will start for the Yankees on Thursday, but he said he has remained “aware” of how his former team is doing without him.

That’s because Minnesota, where Garcia only pitched once, is right on the Yankees’ tail in the wild-card race.

“I know they’re playing good baseball,” Garcia said. “Good for them. They’ve got a good group of guys. They’re inspired.”

Not many would have predicted that when the Twins did an abrupt about-face, sending Garcia to the Yankees less than a week after acquiring him from the Braves.

“When I left, maybe some players might have taken it as giving up, but that’s definitely not what I felt from those guys,” Garcia said. “They were gonna continue to fight and play hard. But my focus is here and getting this team to the playoffs.”

Girardi used Aaron Judge as the DH on Wednesday to ease some of the workload on the rookie. Judge went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.